ROSCOMMON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - 2014-2020 HOUSING STRATEGY VARIATION NO.
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ROSCOMMON
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2014-2020
HOUSINGSTRATEGY
STRATEGY
HOUSING
VARIATION NO. 1
EFFECTIVE DATE 24th JULY 2017
July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
CHAPTER 1.0: INTRODUCTION & POLICY CONTEXT 1
CHAPTER 2.0: HOUSING SUPPLY 2016-2020 1
2.1 Assumptions and Methodology 1
2.2 Demographic and Economic Context 2
2.3 Population and Household Targets and Projections 2
2.4 Household Income Data and Projections 4
2.5 House Price Data and Projections 5
2.6 House Price Affordability 7
2.7 Affordability Thresholds 8
2.8 Analysis of Social and Affordable Need 8
2.9 Conclusions and Analysis on an Annual Basis 12
CHAPTER 3.0: SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT PROGRAMME 14
3.1 Assessment of Housing Needs 14
3.2 Social and Affordable Housing Provision 14
3.3 Local Authority Housing Stock 15
3.4 Rental Accommodation Scheme and Leasing 15
3.5 Voluntary Sector Housing 15
CHAPTER 4.0: PART V POLICY IMPLEMENTATION 17
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Population Targets for the Regional Planning Guidelines
for the West Region 2010-2022 3
Table 2.2 Estimated Disposable Income per person 4
Table 2.3 Estimates of Disposable Income per person in Co. Roscommon to 2020 5
Table 2.4 House Prices in County Roscommon by Year 5
Table 2.5 Projected Average House Prices in County Roscommon 7
Table 2.6 Estimated Distribution of Household Disposable Income (Region & County) 9
Table 2.7 County Roscommon % National Average Individual Disposable Income 9
Table 2.8 Household Income Distribution 10
Table 2.9 Affordability limit of average Monthly Disposable Income in the 4TH Income Decile 10
Table 2.10 House Price Band Inflation in County Roscommon 11
Table 2.11 Total Additional Households per Annum 11
Table 2.12 Summary of Anticipated social and Affordable Housing Need 13
Table 3.1 Social and Affordable Housing Provision in Roscommon 14
FIGURES
Figure 2.1 Population and Household Projections in County Roscommon 2014 - 2020 4
Figure 2.2 % Change House Prices and Disposable Income 8
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014 – 2020 Table of ContentsJuly 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014 – 2020 Table of Contents
July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
1.0 INTRODUCTION & POLICY CONTEXT
The Housing Strategy is included as part of the County Development Plan (CDP) and ensures that the proper
planning and sustainable development of the local authority area provides for the housing of its existing
and future population. It is intended to serve the needs of all who are concerned with housing issues,
including individual members of the public, housing associations and other voluntary organisations working
in the area, house builders, landowners, elected representatives, house designers and local authority staff.
Since the adoption of the Housing Strategy for County Roscommon in 2014 the Urban Regeneration and
Housing Act (URHA) 2015 has been enacted. Its purpose is to facilitate increased activity in the housing
construction sector and support the objectives of “Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed
Construction Sector” as well as the “Social Housing Strategy 2020”.
The Act requires Local Authorities (LA) to review and revise their Housing Strategies by varying their
Development Plans to ensure that they conform to the amended Section 94(2) of the Planning and
Development Act (PDA) 2000 (as amended) and reflect national policy. The following requirements need to
be part of the new Housing Strategies:
Regard shall be had to the most recent social housing needs assessment [ref. Section 94 (2)(a)];
The LA will need to consult with the approved housing bodies in its functional area [ref. Section 94
(2)(b)];
Regard shall be had to the relevant housing policies of the Government and any Minister [ref.
Section 94 (2)(c)];
Provision will need to be made for social and affordable housing, with a change from 20% to 10%
the provision for social and affordable housing of land for residential use or residential and a mix of
other uses [ref. Section 94 (4)(c)];
A range of housing for residents with different income levels will need to be provided [ref. Section
94(3)b];
Affordability will be defined in terms of capacity of eligible persons to service a mortgage based on
a defined level of income and loan to value ratio [ref. Section 93(1)]; and,
It should be noted that the current focus of Part V agreements should, if possible be placed entirely
on social and affordable housing output at this time [ref. Section 96].
2.0 HOUSING SUPPLY 2016-2020
This section evaluates the projected housing requirement for the County from 2016 to 2020 based on
current trends and population targets derived from the Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region
(RPGs) 2010-2022 which is still in force, as provided in the 2014 Housing Strategy, as well as any relevant
updates. This section also sets out projections for house price affordability based on the most up to date
national and local information on house prices and incomes.
2.1 ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODOLOGY
The following calculations, projections and analysis are made based on a number of assumptions using the
most up to date data, commentary and forecasts available at the time. This analysis sets out to determine
housing need and housing affordability by analysing county-level estimates of population, household size,
household income, and house prices.
Data has been collated from a number of sources including the Census of Population, the Central Statistics
Office (CSO), the Department of the Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (DHPCLG), ESRI
and various reports on national economic indicators.
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 1July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Note on Reliability of Data Sources and Projections:
Population targets set out in the RPGs form the basis of year-on-year population growth projections within
this strategy. County level data has been used in the determination of social housing requirements to 2020.
County level data has also been used in relation to incomes and house prices, though projections to 2020
have been made using the most up to date data available at national or regional level. It is necessary that
this strategy uses current external and nationally derived projections in relation to house prices and
incomes. The sources used are subject to change on a quarterly basis and are correct to end on Quarter 3,
2016.
2.2 DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT
The 2008-2014 Housing Strategy was adopted during a period of sustained population and economic
growth in the County which was accompanied by unprecedented growth in housing construction. This
strong growth in housing development which prevailed since the late 1990’s peaked in 2006 with 2,184
house completions in County Roscommon in that year.
A sudden and unprecedented downturn in economic activity in 2008, ultimately caused by a global financial
and banking crisis, stemmed the availability of credit for development. This in conjunction with a saturation
of the housing market and a longstanding trend of house price inflation up to 2008 sparked a severe
correction in Ireland’s property market and a sharp decline in the construction sector. This had a rapid and
profound impact on the housing sector in Roscommon with house completions falling to less than half their
2006 values by 2008 (1,043 completions). The rapid decline continued thereafter falling to 145 completions
in 2012. The assessment conducted for the 2014 Housing Strategy concluded that there had, to date, been
no reliable indicators of a significant recovery in the housing sector in the County. Figures have only
marginally increased to 195 completions in 2015.
In the period 2006 to 2011 social housing made up an average of 12% of total house completions in the
county or 97 units per annum on average over the 6 year period. However, this decreased significantly with
no social housing units being constructed in 2012 and, under the 2014 – 2020 Housing Strategy for County
Roscommon, no social housing units have been constructed in 2015 or in the first 9 months of 2016. In
2013 only 5 units were built (accounting for 3% of the total) and in 2014, 20 were built (accounting for 12%
of the total)1.
2.3 POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD TARGETS AND PROJECTIONS
County Roscommon forms part of the West Region which consists of the Counties of Galway, Mayo and
Roscommon. Following on from the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act (LGRA) 2014, a
number of changes were made to the regional structures in Ireland. The eight regional authorities were
dissolved on the 1st June 2014 and their functions and staff were transferred to the Border, Midland and
Western (BMW) Regional Assembly and to the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regional Assembly. Three new
Regional Assemblies came into being on 1st January 2015, namely the Northern & Western, the Midland &
Eastern and the Southern Regional Assemblies. County Roscommon now falls within the Northern and
Western Regional Assembly.
Until such time as it is replaced by the new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES), the Regional
Planning Guidelines for the West Region (RPGs) 2010-2022 still provides the planning policy guidance for
Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The Regional Planning Guidelines contain population targets
produced by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) for the
Gateways and Hubs for the purposes of the RPG’s Review. These targets made reference to the National
Spatial Strategy (NSS), the RPG review process as well as the changed economic circumstances and market
conditions. These have then formed the basis for the West Region Population Targets for 2010, 2016 and
1
CSO, House completions (number) by Local Authority, Housing Sector and Quarter, 2012 – 2016 and RCC figures, 2017
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 2July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
2022. Those relating to County Roscommon, Roscommon Census Town and the Remainder, are detailed
below.
Table 2.1: Population targets for the Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region 2010 – 2022
Years Co. Roscommon Roscommon Town Remainder
2006 58,768 5,017 53,751
2010 61,500 5,500 56,000
2016 66,700 6,215 60,485
2022 73,400 6,836 66,564
(Source: RPGs for the West Region, 2010-2022)
The Regional Planning Guidelines project a population increase of 5,200 in the period 2010-2016 and 6,700
in the period 2016-2022 for County Roscommon. The Core Strategy of the County Development Plan 2014-
2020 has extrapolated these figures for the 2014-2020 period and highlight that the figures amount to a
total population growth allocation of 6,200 for County Roscommon in the plan period. The preliminary
results of Census 2016 show that the actual population change for County Roscommon between 2011 and
2016 was 371 persons (0.6%). The Planning Authority is required to be consistent with the national and
regional population growth projections and therefore, even though the actual figures seem to be indicating
a significantly lower growth, until such time an alternative growth scenarios are provided nationally and
regionally we are bound by the figures already in place.
The average household size in the county in the 2011 census was 2.7 persons per household which follows
the national trend of a progressive fall in household sizes. The preliminary results of Census 2016 show that
the household size in the County is 2.6 persons per household. This trend still indicates that a greater
proportion of smaller houses will be required in the future. Local auctioneers have concurred that in the
private housing market there is a greater proportion of smaller households which are requiring housing
particularly in the south of the County. The “Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region 2010-2020”
project an average household size of 2.5 for County Roscommon. This was predicted in the RCDP 2014 –
2020 to necessitate the provision of 2,480 new houses in the county between 2014 and 2020, or 413
houses per annum. The core strategy of the RCDP 2014-2020 addresses the quantum of this allocation
which will be directed to residential land (See Section 2 of the RCDP 2014-2020 for further details). Figure
2.1 (below) outlines the projected increases:
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 3July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
80,000
73,400
70,000 66,700
63,898
58,768
60,000
50,000
40,000 35,519
31,718 32,839
30,000 26,979
20,000
10,000
0
2006 2011 2016 2022
Population Households
Figure 2.1: Population and Household Projections in County Roscommon 2014-2020
2.4 HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA AND PROJECTIONS
Having established the population and household base, it is necessary to forecast the county-specific
household disposable income. This will be done for the period 2008 to 2020. An essential element of the
housing demand analysis is ensuring that the recommendations are based on an accurate assessment of
household incomes. Material has been sourced from County Income and Regional GDP 2013 produced by
the Central Statistics Office ( February 2016).
Table 2.2: Estimated Disposable income per person (€)
Area 2011 2012 2013 2014
West Region 17,804 17,983 17,799 18,346
Galway 18,190 18,529 18,390 18,977
Mayo 17,575 17,590 17,365 17,876
Roscommon 16,759 16,647 16,372 16,839
Source: County Incomes and Regional GDP 2013 (Feb 2016)
Using the above trends as well as the most up to date and impartial data and projections available in
relation to disposable income projections and inflation as set out in Table 2.2, estimates of disposable
income have been projected forward to 2020 to provide a basis for housing affordability in line with the
house price analysis set out in Section 2.5. There is limited information concerning disposable income
projections and the Western Development Commission (WDC) in their insights blog (7 March 2016) indicate
that the change in disposable income for Roscommon between 2012 and 2013 was -1.7% and between
2012 and 2014 was 1.2%. Incomes are 19% below 2008 levels and between 2011 and 2014 remained static
in the county. For this reason modest 2 % change per annum is predicted for the county between 2014 and
2020.
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 4July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Table 2.3: Estimates of Disposable Income per Person (€) in County Roscommon to 20202
Year Estimated Disposable Income % Change
2008 20,817 -
2009 19,686 -5.4%
2010 18,049 -8.3%
2011 16,759 -7.1%
2012 16,647 -0.6%
2013 16,372 -1.7%
2014 16,839 2.8%
2015 17,182 2%
2016 17,533 2%
2017 17,890 2%
2018 18,256 2%
2019 18,628 2%
2020 19,008 2%
Source: CSO County Income and Regional GDP (2013); WDC Insights Blog (7 March 2016)
2.5 HOUSE PRICE DATA AND PROJECTIONS
The following tables (2.4 and 2.5) outline the change in house prices in Roscommon since 2007 and
projected house prices over the course of the two previous Housing Strategies.
There is little consensus on future house price trends at the moment and attempting to predict future
trends as a means of estimating affordability is fraught with difficulties. As evidenced in Table 2.4 below,
house prices were in sharp decline for over half a decade which led to a significant trough of -62.5% in the
second quarter of 2014 from their peak in 20073. This trend then slowed up and in 2015 came a turning
point, which has led to the overcorrection of 32.6% increase in house prices from the trough in 2014.
Table 2.4: House prices in County Roscommon by year
Year (publication date) Avg. House Price (€) % Year-on-Year Change % from peak (’07) or
trough (’14)
2007 (Q2) 237,095 -7.4% -
2008 (Q2) 228,636 -3.7% -
2009 (Q2) 189,808 -17.5% -23.6%
2010 (Q2) 157,598 -17% -36.5%
2011 (Q2) 142,130 -13% -43.5%
2012 (Q2) 114,359 -19.5% -54.6%
2013 (Q2) 99,443 -13.4% -60.4%
2014 (Q2) 64,274 -5.2% -62.5%
2015 (Q2) 107,030 12.2% 16.8%
2016 (Q2) 121,488 13.5% 32.6%
Source: The Daft.ie House Price Report – Analysis of recent trends in the Irish residential sales market, Quarter 2: 2012-2016
Forecasting house prices, on an annual basis, to 2020 is extremely challenging. This table illustrates how the
prices had decreased substantially in Roscommon from the 2006 figures to 2014 and then began to rise. It
was noted in the 2014 – 2020 housing strategy that there was a per annum decrease of 15% between 2008
and 2010, where an expected rise of 5% was predicted in the 2008 Housing Strategy. As house prices are
now beginning to rise and considering recent regulatory changes for first time buyers it is fair to assume
that the positive trend is likely to continue (even taking into account the high residential vacancy of 21.6%).
The following reports which have provided commentary on house prices over the last number of years have
informed the projected house price increases between 2016 and 2020, as detailed in this strategy.
2
Figures in this table used in Table 2.8
3
Daft.ie - House price Review Quarter 2, 2014
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 5July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
The Quarterly Economic Commentary from Autumn 2016 of the Economic and Social Research
Institute (ESRI) has indicated that house price growth in 2016 appears to have stabilized throughout
the country, with prices in Dublin growing by an average of just over 4% per annum between January
2012 and April 2016 and prices outside of Dublin growing an average of 10% per annum over the same
period.
The report also indicates that there are “some tentative signs that housing supply may be beginning to
pick up in 2016 albeit from a very low base” (p.31). The monthly supply of housing between January
and June 2016 exceeded the average over the 2010 – 2015 yearly time period. For this reason, ESRI
forecast that housing completions for 2016 will be 14,200 with 17,500 being constructed in 2017.
The CBI in their “Review of residential mortgage lending requirements” (2016) indicate that “National
residential property prices rose by 7.2 per cent in the year to August 2016, while Dublin house price
inflation was lower at 4.5 per cent over the same period. Outside Dublin, house prices increased by
11.4 per cent since August 2015, although this does mask some regional variability. The weak levels of
transactions and credit growth suggest that a shortage of supply is a key factor underlying this
renewed pick up in house prices.”
The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) in their editorial letter series (2016) “Assessing the sustainability of
Irish residential property prices: 1980Q1 – 2016Q2”, indicate that positive annual growth rates have
been recorded since 2013, but, “Since 2015 the pace of growth has declined, coinciding with the
introduction of the new macroprudential rules for new Irish mortgage lending (“regulations”)
introduced by the Central Bank of Ireland. Survey evidence suggests that market experts reduced their
expectations for further house price growth around the time of the introduction of these regulations.
National house prices, however, continue to increase and the latest data for September 2016 show
annual growth of 7 per cent per annum.” As these rules have since been relaxed there is a possibility
that they may stimulate house price inflation.
“Against this background, the strength of the rebound in prices since 2013Q2 – annual growth in real
terms of over 16 per cent occurred in 2014, a level similar to that witnessed during the housing boom
– was a cause of some concern. While the mortgage market regulations do not directly target house
prices, their introduction coincided with a more moderate rise in the value of residential property
throughout 2015 and into 2016. The most recent data suggest that real house prices are growing at
almost 7 per cent annually and the level of house prices is now about 35 per cent below peak levels.”
A report by ESRI in August 2014 entitled “Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble? An assessment of the
Current State of the Irish Housing Market” indicates the following “Our forecast model suggests that
Irish house prices will grow in real terms by an annual average of 6.5 per cent from December 2013 to
2017” (p.4). The article provides a cross country perspective and presents a suite of models to
determine “fundamental house price” which is then used to determine results. The forecast
percentage increase in real Irish House Prices between 2014 and 2017 is as follows: 8 percent in 2014,
9 per cent in 2015, 4.9 per cent in 2016 and 3.9 per cent in 2017.
Davy Stockbrokers in their September 2014 article “ Housing: The Past, The Present, The Future”
indicate that the recovery is uneven, with house prices over the 12 months to September 2014 up an
average of 13% across the country but that “this figure masks the reality that the majority of gains
have been driven by the Dublin Market. Prices in the capital have risen over 23% in the past year, while
the rest of the country is up just under 5%. Indeed, there is increasingly a growing gap between Dublin
and the rest of the country”
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Table 2.5 below appears to indicate that there will be more significant
growth in house prices than indicated by the analysis above particularly considering the figures between
2014 to 2015 and then 2016 and appears to indicate that this trend may continue however the following is
provided by way of explanation.
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 6July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Year on year change in County Roscommon of -5.2% to +12.2% and +13.5% in the period between 2014 and
2016 illustrate sharper than expected “over-correction” in the Housing Market resulting in ‘bottoming out’
at a lower level than predicted. The 2014 Housing Strategy based on Daft, Bloxham, and Davy Stockbrokers
information predicted a more gradual ‘bottoming out’ and return to growth than actually occurred.
However, both projected and actual scenarios arrived at almost identical 2016 house prices.
Therefore, as there are no accurate figures showing demand for housing and associated projections to
2020, taking into consideration the ESRI and CBI projections above, and coupled with the drive up of house
prices due to the shortage of supply, it is fair to assume that the 7% increase in house prices annually as
predicted by the CBI may be slightly exaggerated and that a level closer to the ESRI projections may be
more appropriate to areas that are not experiencing these housing supply issues. For this reason, the stable
3.5% to 4% growth annually predicted as part of the 2014 – 2020 Housing Strategy is still deemed
appropriate.
Table 2.5: Projected Average House Prices in Co. Roscommon (€)4
Year Ave House Price(€) % Change
2014 64,274 -5.2%
2015 107,030 12.2%
2016 121,488 13.5%
2017 126,550 3.5%
2018 131,823 3.5%
2019 137,316 4%
2020 143,037 4%
Source: The Daft.ie House Price Reports, Davy Stockbrokers, ESRI and Central Bank of Ireland market reports.
Local auctioneers have indicated that in the private housing market the house prices seem to be rising at a
greater level and there is greater demand for those i.e. they foresee growth in excess of 10% for those
properties under approximately €130,000, whereas they foresee 4% would be reasonable for those
properties which are valued at over approximately €130,000.
2.6 HOUSE PRICE AFFORDABILITY
Based on the assumptions made and the projections of average disposable income and average house
prices, the patterns of increase show a strong correlation between the sets of data. This means that very
modest increases in average disposable income will be matched with similar levels of modest increases in
average house prices over the relevant period. Based on this analysis the affordability factor remains
relatively constant as against current levels and the analysis and results from the 2014 Housing Strategy
remain the same. This means that there is an equivalent rate of change in average income levels compared
with average house prices.
4
The figures in this table are also used in Table 2.10
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 7July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
-5.00%
-10.00%
-15.00%
-20.00%
-25.00%
House Price % change Disposable Income % change
Figure 2.2: % Change House Prices and Disposable Income
2.7 AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLDS
The purpose of the analysis of population, household size, household income and house prices is to identify
the demand and supply of housing over the lifetime of the Housing Strategy.
The Planning and Development Act (Section 93(1)) sets out the parameters that need to be applied. These
are as follows:
Yearly loan repayment is less than or equal to 35% of annual income, net of income tax and pay
related insurance; and
The loan to value ratio should not exceed 90%.
2011–2017
2.8 ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE NEED
The model guidance for the completion of the Housing Strategy (Dec 2000) recommends the use of an
annuity formula to determine the affordability thresholds set out above. In order to complete this formula
in a manner which is specific to County Roscommon, the above house price and disposable income trends
and projections were used. In the application of this formula the distribution of household disposable
income in County Roscommon, which was used in the 2012 review of the previous Housing Strategy was
used as a point in time from which to project the house price and disposable income projections for the
period of the 2014-2020 County Development Plan.
Recent regionally based income deciles are not currently available from the CSO and those detailed in Table
2.6 below are drawn nationally5. These household income projections have then been deflated accordingly
to achieve an estimate for County Roscommon.
5
CSO, Household Budget Survey, 2009 – 2010 (most recent release)
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 8July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Table 2.6 Estimated Distribution of Household Disposable Income (Region & County)
Income Average H’lds in Ave. Co. Ros. Average Annual Households in
Ranges Weekly each Disposable Deflator Disposable County
9 10
(Deciles) Disposable Category Household Household Income Roscommon
7 8
H’hld (%) Income (€) (Roscommon €)
Income
6
(€)
- - 1 2 3 4 (2X+3) 5 (Total * Col. 1 as
%)
1st Decile < 188.91 9.9% 9,823.32 91.1 8,949 2,349
2nd DecileJuly 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Table 2.8 Household Income Distribution (€)
Av. Annual Disposable Income 2014-2020 (€ at current prices)
Disposable
Income (€)
11
Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
% - -8.3% -7.1% -0.6% -1.7% 2.8% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
12
Growth
st
1 Decile 8,949 8,206 7,623 7,577 7,459 7,668 7,821 7,977 8,136 8,300 8,466 8,635
nd
2 Decile 14,258 13,075 12,147 12,074 11,869 12,201 12,445 12,694 12,948 13,207 13,471 13,740
rd
3 Decile 20,431 18,735 17,405 17,301 17,007 17,483 17,833 18,190 18,554 18,925 19,304 19,690
th
4 Decile 26,017 23,858 22,164 22,031 21,656 22,262 22,707 23,161 23,624 24,097 24,579 25,071
th
5 Decile 31,714 29,082 27,017 26,855 26,398 27,137 27,680 28,234 28,799 29,375 29,963 30,562
th
6 Decile 38,019 34,863 32,388 32,194 31,647 32,533 33,184 33,848 34,525 35,216 35,920 36,638
th
7 Decile 46,047 42,225 39,227 38,992 38,329 39,402 40,190 40,994 41,814 42,650 43,503 44,373
th
8 Decile 56,080 51,425 50,774 50,469 49,611 51,000 52,020 53,060 54,121 55,203 56,307 57,433
th
9 Decile 69,763 63,973 59,431 59,074 58,070 59,696 60,890 62,108 63,350 64,617 65,909 67,227
th
10 Decile 108,453 99,451 92,390 91,836 90,275 92,803 94,659 96,552 98,483 100,453 102,462 104,511
Source: CSO Household Budget Survey 2009 – 2010; CSO County Income and Regional GDP (2013); WDC Insights Blog (7 March
2016)
To calculate affordability the above table was used to determine the projected monthly household
disposable income and an annuity formula was used to determine the affordable house price for 10 deciles
of the population of the county. To determine the 35% affordability criteria the 4 th decile income bracket
was used. This is represented in the table below:
Table 2.9: Affordability limit of average monthly disposable income in the 4 th Income Decile
Income 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Decile
th
4 Decile 123,204 125,661 128,185 130,775 133,366 136,022 138,746
With the 35% affordability threshold set out for households in County Roscommon the analysis moves to
house price band inflation in the county. Section 2.5 above sets out projections for house price growth
from 2014 to 2020 for the county and the analysis uses the percentage growth trend established in Section
2.5 and set out in Table 2.5 to project the house price bands established in the 2012 review of the Housing
Strategy forward from 2014 to 2020.
11
Figures drawn from Table 2.6 above
12
Figures drawn from Table 2.3 above
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 10July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Table 2.10 House Price Band Inflation in County Roscommon13
Year & Average
Increase (%) House Price Band (in €)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
54,244 64,505 75,224 85,970 96,718 107,476 118,210 128,957
2014 -5.2% 139,703
64,505 75,224 85,970 96,718 107,476 118,210 128,957 139,703
65,703 78,132 91,116 104,131 117,149 130,180 143,182 156,199
2015 12.2% 169,215
78,132 91,116 104,131 117,149 130,180 143,182 156,199 169,215
69,701 82,886 96,659 110,467 124,277 138,101 151,894 165,702
2016 13.5% 179,512
82,886 96,659 110,467 124,277 138,101 151,894 165,702 179,512
72,141 85,787 100,042 114,333 128,627 142,935 157,210 171,502
2017 3.5% 185,795
85,787 100,042 114,333 128,627 142,935 157,210 171,502 185,795
74,665 88,790 103,543 118,335 133,129 147,938 162,712 177,505
2018 3.5% 192,298
88,780 103,543 118,335 133,129 147,938 162,712 177,505 192,298
77,652 92,331 107,685 123,068 138,454 153,856 169,220 184,605
2019 4% 199,990
92,331 107,685 123,068 138,454 153,856 169,220 184,605 199,990
80,758 96,024 111,992 127,991 143,992 160,010 175,989 191,989
2020 4% 207,990
96,024 111,992 127,991 143,992 160,010 175,989 191,989 207,990
% Units Per Each 6.6% 7.5% 8.3% 12.1% 14.6% 12.8% 12.8% 8.0% 4.6% 12.7%
Price Band
The proportion of households in each decile is set out in Table 2.10 above. When the total population
growth for the housing strategy period is broken down into the same 10 deciles of the population used for
disposable income the number of households formed at each decile is established. This is represented in
table 2.11 below:
Table 2.11 Total Additional Households per Annum
Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
st
1 Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
nd
2 Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
3rd Decile 42 42 42 42 42 42 42
th
4 Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
5th Decile 42 42 42 42 42 42 42
th
6 Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
7th Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
th
8 Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
9th Decile 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
th
10 Decile 42 42 42 42 42 42 42
Total 413 413 413 413 413 413 413
13
This table relies on figures from Table 2.5
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 11July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon 2.9 CONCLUSIONS AND ANALYSIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS From the analysis presented above, and on the basis of 35% measure of affordability, it is suggested that overall demand for social and affordable housing will exceed the anticipated supply. This can be represented on an individual year-by-year basis. Year 2014: 165(41+41+42+41) households are likely to be able to afford the properties up to €123,204. Assuming a constant distribution across the price ranges, it can be calculated that 73 (165/123,204 x 54,244) households will be able to afford up to the lowest price range of €54,244. However, from Table 2.11, only 41 housing units are expected to be formed at this price level. A shortfall of 32 units is therefore anticipated, representing 7.7% (32/413) of all new households formed in 2015. Year 2015: 165(41+41+42+41) households are likely to be able to afford the properties up to €125,661. Assuming a constant distribution across the price ranges, it can be calculated that 86 (165/125,661 x 65,703) households will be able to afford up to the lowest price range of €65,703. However, from Table 2.11, only 41 housing units are expected to be formed at this price level. A shortfall of 45 units is therefore anticipated, representing 11% (45/413) of all new households formed in 2015. Year 2016: 165(41+41+42+41) households will have an upper affordability threshold price of some €128,185. With an even distribution this equates to 90 (165/128,185 x 69,701) units that could afford up to €69,701. A total of 41 housing units will be provided up to this price, representing an estimated shortfall of 49. This represents 12% (49/413) of all households formed in the year 2016. Year 2017: 165(41+41+42+41) households will have an upper affordability threshold price of €130,775. With an even distribution this equates to 91 (165/130,775 x 72,141) units that in turn could afford up to €72,141. Taking account of the 41 housing units that will duly be provided up to this price threshold, this represents a shortfall of 50. This is equivalent to some 12% (50/413) of all households formed in the year 2017. Year 2018: 165(41+41+42+41) households will have an upper affordability threshold price of €133,366. With an even distribution this equates to 92 (165/133,366 x 74,665) units that will be able to afford up to €74,665. A total of 41 housing units will be provided up to this price, representing a shortfall of 51. This represents 12.3% (51/413) of all the households formed in the year 2018. Year 2019: 165(41+41+42+41) households will have an upper affordability threshold price of €136,022. Applying an even distribution this equates to 94 (165/136,022 x 77,652) housing units that could afford up to €77,652. There are expected to be 41 housing units provided up to this threshold price, representing a shortfall of 53. This is equivalent to some 12.8% (53/413) of all households formed in the 2019. Year 2020: 165(41+41+42+41) households will have an upper affordability threshold price of €138,746. On the assumption that an even distribution applies, this equates to 96 (165/138,746 x 80,758) housing units that could afford up to €80,758. There will be up to 41 housing units provided up to this price, representing a shortfall of 55. This is equivalent to 13.3% (55/413) of all households formed in the year 2020. Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 12
July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
Table 2.12: Summary of Anticipated Social & Affordable Housing Need
Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Household 413 413 413 413 413 413 413
Formations
No of Units Shortfall 32 45 49 50 51 53 55
%Shortfall 7.7% 11% 12% 12% 12.3% 12.8% 13.3%
Overall Average 2014- =11.6%
2020
The assessment estimates that there will be a total of 165 (total of first four deciles) households in the
lifetime of the strategy that will experience affordability issues. It also demonstrates that no more than
11.6% of all the households in County Roscommon will meet the eligibility criteria specified under the
legislation14. The affordability assessment above, does not, however, take account of the problems
concerning accessibility to credit, encountered by prospective home owners. This however cannot be
considered an affordability issue for the purposes of this study. Section 31 of the Urban Regeneration and
Housing Act 2015 has reduced from 20% to 10% the percentage of land which should be set aside for social
and affordable housing and for this reason and considering the 11.6% of households experiencing
affordability issues, there is a need for Roscommon County Council to ensure that a minimum of 10% of
land zoned as residential use in the development plan is safeguarded for the provision of social and
affordable housing development.Local auctioneers have indicated that the specified 10% of land is
reasonable but that the units should not simply be set aside in one area but should be interspersed within
the housing developments.
14
The figures actually range from 7.7% to 13.3%, with an average of circa 11.6%
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 13July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
3.0 SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
It is confirmed above in the summary of housing affordability that it is anticipated that up to 11.6% of new
households formed in the period of the strategy (on an annual basis) will continue to experience difficulties
in respect of affordability. It has also been noted in Section 4 of the report that there is adequate zoned
residential land within the county of Roscommon to meet anticipated demand for housing.
3.1 ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEEDS
Under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, housing authorities are required to carry out periodic
assessments, at intervals not exceeding three years, of the need for the provision of suitable
accommodation for persons in need of re-housing. The most recent assessment carried out by Roscommon
County Council in September 2016 showed a net need of 560 applicants on the waiting list with a further 44
applicants under consideration. The number is broadly in line with the trends from 2002 to 2011
respectively. Significant efforts were made to contact Applicants on the list prior to 21 September 2015, as
was required in Circular 25/2016 to confirm their continued qualification for Social Housing Support. An
Assessment of Housing Need will happen annually from now on.
3.2 SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISION
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (DHPCLG) has data published
regularly on the provision of social and affordable housing across each County.
Table 3.1: Social & Affordable Housing Provision in Roscommon
Local Authority Housing Provision Years
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Roscommon Build** 0 1 0 3 0
Roscommon Acq** 4 4 0 9 26
Roscommon CAS Acq** 75 13 0 0 1
Roscommon CLSS** 31 0 0 0 0
Voluntary RAS (Units added) 1 8 2 10 1
RAS Units (Units added) 89 60 66 59 23
HAP*** N/A N/A N/A N/A 0
Return of Void Properties N/A N/A 34 36 80
TOTAL 200 86 102 117 131
**http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
***HAP commenced Dec 2016
The level of housing provision is shown in Table 3.1 above. This states that a total of 636 units have been
made available in the 5 year period from 2012 to 2016. This equates to an average social and affordable
housing provision of up to 127 units per annum.
Roscommon County Council sold 14 affordable homes in 2007 when house prices were at their peak in the
County and 5 affordable homes in 2008. No affordable homes were sold from 2009 to 2015. In this context,
it is a reasonable assumption that there is little demand for affordable housing in the county, particularly
since 2008 with the marked fall in house prices. A 2012 Governmental housing policy statement stood
down on the provision of affordable housing and this has been reiterated in the new amendments to Part V
of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) by the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015.
Affordable housing will therefore not be considered by the Council as an option to be exercised by a
developer when negotiating a Part V agreement.
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 14July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon 3.3 LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING STOCK Roscommon County Council’s housing stock at 31st December 2015 was 1356. It will be an important component of the housing strategy that the utilisation of the existing available local authority housing stock is maximised during the six year lifetime of the forthcoming housing strategy. It will be crucial that any vacancies are kept to a minimum in both time and numerical terms. This will require a system of thorough and frequent monitoring of the housing stock, and adequate resources being made available to return vacant houses to stock. In this regard, an intensive programme of void works was carried out during 2016 with the return of 80 properties to productive use. This is a key action to ensure that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible. The Housing Section is currently undertaking a significant acquisitions programme in the main towns. In 2016, fifty one (51) properties were at sale complete or sale agreed in the six major towns. This included acquisitions in estates that were described as ‘Unfinished’. Acquisitions for social housing within these estates has been part of the solution to resolving their outstanding planning and technical issues. The completion of these is a specific measure in ‘Rebuilding Ireland’. The arrangements for future provision of local authority housing has traditionally been through means of receipt of housing capital allocations from the DHPCLG, and the future programme of any such housing provision should be taken into account in preparation of this strategy. In addition, there will be links with the private sector in terms of Public Private Partnerships and the Repair and Lease Scheme currently on trial in Carlow and Laois County Councils. 3.4 RENTAL ACCOMMODATION SCHEME AND LEASING As at 31 December 2016 there were 349 RAS Private tenancies (excluding Voluntary Housing tenants in RAS). In addition, there were 82 voluntary housing tenants in RAS. As at the end of December 2016 there are 10 leased units in the County as follows: 6 unsold Affordables – Castlerea 1 Long Term Leased property – Roscommon 3 Long Term Leased properties – Boyle Partnerships with Housing Associations (formerly Approved Housing Bodies) will be a key part of meeting the housing need into the future. Roscommon will enter into lease agreements for the provisions of accommodation under the Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. HAP will eventually replace long-term Rent Supplement. It was introduced under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and a series of Statutory Instruments. Under the scheme, local authorities pay landlords directly. The rent being charged for the accommodation must be within the limits set down for the household type in that local authority’s area. Tenants pay a weekly HAP rent contribution to the local authority, based on their income and ability to pay. It is in operation in Roscommon since December 2016. In time Rent Supplement recipients will transfer to Local Authorities and may be offered HAP in their current or other property. 3.5 VOLUNTARY HOUSING SECTOR In County Roscommon, there has always been an important role played by the voluntary housing sector in partnership with the Local Authority. This input has historically been fairly limited, and provision made through a small number of key approved housing bodies across the County. The voluntary housing sector is Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 15
July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon supported by the Council and the DHPCLG who fund the voluntary housing schemes. The role of this sector continues to be fully recognised by the County Council, and this relationship continues to be built upon to ensure that the accommodation needs of the County are catered for particularly in the area of special housing requirements. There were 178 housing units made available to rent up to 31st December 2016. Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 16
July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon
4.0 PART V POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
Under the Planning and Development Act (PDA) 2000, as now amended by the Urban Regeneration and
Housing Act 2015, and in accordance with the Roscommon Housing Strategy, all developers of lands with a
residential or general zoning must reserve a specified percentage of the lands, or equivalent, for the
provision of social housing. The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 amended from 20% to 10% this
percentage (see Section 31) which RCC will now apply.
The 2015 Act, which came into effect on the 1 September 2015, indicated that the following delivery
options are now available for fulfilment of Part V obligations under the Acts:
Transfer of ownership to the Local Authority (LA) of land which is the subject of a planning application.
The building and transfer of ownership to the LA of completed social housing units on land, which is
the subject of a planning application.
Transfer to the ownership of the LA (or to other persons nominated by the Authority) of houses or any
land within the functional area. This allows social housing units to be delivered in a more timely
fashion in another location, in the event that the development which is the subject of the planning
permission does not meet the social housing or mixed tenure needs of the LA.
Part V obligation can now be fulfilled by developers through long term leasing of properties to the LA.
A combination of Part V options above is also allowed.
The following Part V options have been removed which previously existed under the PDA 2000 (as
amended):
Transferring of fully or partially serviced sites on land, subject to the planning permission application
Option of transferring land within the functional area other than the land which is the subject of the
planning permission
Option of transferring fully or partially serviced sites on land other than the land which is the subject
of the planning permission
Option of providing cash payment in lieu of social housing
Transitional arrangements have also been put in place, which indicate that where a commencement notice
has not been lodged in respect of a particular development, the new Part V arrangements can, with the
consent of the local authority and the developer, be retrospectively applied to existing planning
permissions. The focus remains on maximising the potential for the delivery of social as opposed for
affordable housing units. Section 33(1)(a) of the Act 2015 requires Part V agreement to be reached prior to
lodgement of a commencement notice and the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3)
Regulations 2015 requires a detailed Part V proposal to be included as part of an application for planning
permission for a housing development, in order for the application to be valid.
In addition, a certificate of exemption from the provisions of Part V (Section 97 of PDA 2000 as amended)
now relates to 9 or fewer houses (and not 4 or fewer as was previously the case), which should be provided
within the same urban area as the original planning permission. Any agreements arrived at to comply with
Section 96 shall be cost neutral to the Council.
When completed, housing units are transferred to the local authority. The Council will seek to:
Ensure that undue social segregation is minimised;
Ensure complete and efficient development of building sites; and
Facilitate the implementation of policy in regard to social housing.
Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 17July 2017 Housing Strategy for County Roscommon The acquisition of units of accommodation under the provisions of Part V will further ensure social integration, as social housing will be provided alongside private developments. Developers can assist through engaging in pre-planning consultations with the Planning Authority early in the design stage to ensure that social segregation is minimised. Variation No. 1 of the Roscommon County Development Plan 2014-2020 18
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